Seating device



y 1957 J. v. REED SEATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1955 United States Patent 1. 2,797,418 SEATING DEVICE James V. Reed, Silver Spring, Md. Application October 25, 1955, Serial No. 542,649

8 Claims. (Cl. 4-57) This invention relates to a seating device and more particularly to a toilet flush tank stopper seating device.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved seating device for the purpose of insuring proper and etfective seating of a flush tank stopper in a flush tank discharge, thereby reducing leaks and resulting in an appreciable saving of water.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved seating device to insure proper seating of a flush tank stopper which may be used in connection with conventional flush tanks in general use, and which may be installed therein at nominal cost. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying illustrative drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, with portions thereof broken away, showing a conventional flush tank with essential internal parts in a normally unoperated or non-flushing position and particularly showing the improved seating device associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing essential internal parts shortly after being raised to an operated or flushing position, and particularly showing the improved seating device associated therewith. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing essential internal parts after being raised to an operated or flushing position and with the flushing cycle approximately one-half completed, and particularly showing the improved seating device associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing essential internal parts after completion of the flushing cycle, and showing operation of the improved seating device associated therewith.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a portion of flush tank 9 of conventional construction, embodying the usual overflow pipe 8 in communication with discharge outlet 11. The discharge outlet 11 is provided with a seat 7 complemental to flush tank stopper 6. The flush tank 9 is also provided with operating rod 1, stopper rod 4, and a stopper rod bracket 2 which is provided with a stopper rod guide 10. The general construction and operation of the foregoing parts is conventional unless otherwise noted and well understood by those skilled in the art.

A magnet 3 is securely fastened to the lower surface of stopper rod guide 10. The magnet 3 is preferably cylinderical in shape and provided with a longitudinal bore of suflicient diameter to loosely receive stopper rod 4 and mounted in such a manner as to have the longitudinal bore in alignment with the stopper rod guide 10.

A ferrous metal hammer 5 is slidably mounted on stopper rod 4 between magnet 3 and the upper portion of flush tank stopper 6. The hammer 5 is preferably cylindrical in shape and provided with a longitudinal bore of suificient diameter to loosely receive the lower portion 14 of rod 4, but not of a diameter great enough to receive the upper portion 12 of rod 4.

The stopper rod 4 is provided with an upper portion 12 of enlarged diameter and a lower portion 14 of reduced diameter. Enlarged upper portion 12 extends downwardly through guide 10 and a short distance past magnet 3, as best seen in Fig. 1. Usually a distance of to A is suflicient when stopper 6 is properly seated. The lower end of rod 4 is securely attached by any suitable means, such as by a threaded connection, to stopper 6, which is preferably of the buoyant type. t

The operation of the seating device is as follows:

The operating rod 1 is raised upwardly in the usual manner from the position shown in Fig. 1, carrying rod 4, ferrous metal hammer 5, and stopper 6 to the position as shown in Fig. 2, where it is apparent hammer 5 is in contact with magnet 3. In this operating or flushing position, the discharge outlet 11 is no longer covered by stopper 6 and the water rushes through seat 7 and discharge outlet 11, causing the water to recede in flush tank 9. The stopper 6 remains in the position shown in Fig. 2 due to its buoyancy until the water level is lowered below its center of buoyancy, as shown in Fig. 3, and begins to slowly settle with the water level carrying rod 4 downwardly. However, ferrous metal hammer 5 remains removably attached to magnet 3 and does not follow stopper 6 downwardly at this time.

The stopper 6 continues to settle slowly with the water level, thus carryingrod 4 downwardly until the stopper 6 contacts seat 7, the flushing operation being substantially completed at this time. As shown in Fig. 4, just before the stopper 6 contacts seat 7, the enlarged portion 12 of rod 4 extends past magnet 3 and bears on hammer 5 causing hammer 5 to be released from magnet 3 and fall downwardly along rod 4 until it strikes stopper 6. Energy imparted to the hollow relatively flexible flush tank stopper when it and the hammer meet results in a jiggling motion in the stopper at the moment just after first contact with the seat 7, thereby assuring proper positioning in seat 7 and eliminating leakageof water.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that a unique and novel seating device has been specifically illustrated and described which will overcome the many disadvantages inherent in related prior art devices. However, I do not intend to be bound by the foregoing specific illustration and description since many modifications thereof are possible in the light of my teachings. For example, the hammer 5 may be constructed as a magnet with guide 10 being constructed of ferrous metal, or other modifications provided, such as by a mechanical releasing means, whereby the hammer 5 is released to fall downwardly striking stopper 6 at the proper moment.

It is further apparent that magnet 3 and ferrous metal hammer 5 need not be of any specific form or construction and the configuration thereof may vary widely. The hammer 5 need only be of a weight sufficient to release the desired amount of energy to stopper 6 when falling from a pre-determined height to cause a vigorous flexing or jiggling motion therein, and magnet 3 need only be of suificient strength to hold the hammer 5 suspended but not of suflicient strength to hold the total weight of rod 4, stopper 6 and hammer 5 suspended.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a flush tank of the class including a discharge outlet leading from the bottom of the flush tank and terminating on the inner end in a seat, a stopper having at least a portion thereof complementary to the discharge seat, the stopper being normally in a non-flushing position with the stopper seated in the discharge seat and movable upwardly therefrom to a flushing position, and means including an upright member connected to the stopper for moving the stopper upwardly from the non-flushing position to the flushing position, the improvement comprising a hammer slidably mounted on the upright member, means for releasably holding the hammer in a position above the stopper, the hammer being so mounted and arranged as to be free to fall downwardly after disengagement from the holding means and apply force to the stopper, the hammer being moved upwardly when the stopper is moved to the flushing position and engaged by the holding means, and means carried by the upright member for disengaging the hammer from the holding means as the stopper is returning to the non-flushing position. 7

2. In a flush tank of the class including a discharge outlet leading from the bottom of the flush tank and ter- Initiating on the inner end in a seat, a stopper having at least a portion thereof complementary to the discharge seat, the stopper being normally in a non-flushing position with the stopper seated in the discharge seat and movable upwardly therefrom to a flushing position, and means including an upright member connected to the stopper for moving the stopper upwardly from the nonflushing position to the flushing position, the improvement comprising a ferrous metal hammer slidably mounted on the upright member, magnet means forreleasably holding the hammer in a position above the stopper, the hammer being so mounted and arranged as to be free tofall downwardly after disengagement from the magnet holding means and apply force to the stopper, the hammer being moved upwardly when the stopper is moved to the flushing position and engaged by the magnet holding means, and means carried by the upright member for disengaging the hammer from the magnet holding means as the stopper is returning to the non-flushing position.

3. In a flush tank of the class including an upright member mounted in the flush tank, a stopper attached to the lower end of the upright member, a discharge outlet leading from the bottom of the flush tank and terminating on the inner end in .a seat, at least a portion of the stopper being complementary to the discharge seat, the upright member and stopper being normally in a nonflushing position with-the stopper seated in the discharge seat, the upright member and stopper being movable upwardly to a flushing position, the improvement comprising a hammer slidably mounted on the upright member and above the stopper, means for releasably holding the hammer suspended above the stopper, the hammer being carried upwardly when the upright member and stopper are moved to the flushing position and engaged by said holding means, the hammer being disengaged from said holding means by means carried by the upright member as the upright member is returning toward the non-flushing position, the hammer falling downwardly after disengagement -from the holding means and striking the stopper.

4. In a flush tank of the class including an upright member mounted in the flush tank, a stopper attached to the lower end of the upright member, a discharge outlet leading from the bottom of the flush tank-and terminating on the inner end in a seat, at least a portion of the stopper being complementary to theseat, the upright memher and stopper being normally in a non-flushing 'position with the stopper seated in the seat, the upright member and stopper being movable upwardly to a flushing position, the improvement comprisinga ferrous metal hammer slidably mounted on the upright member and above the stopper, magnet meansfor releasably holding the hammer suspended above the stopper, the hammer being carried upwardly when the upright member and stopper are moved to the flushing position and engaged by the magnet means, the hammer being disengaged from the magnet by means carried by the upright member as the upright member is returning toward the non-flushing position, the hammer falling downwardly after disengagement from the magnet and striking the stopper.

5. In a flush tank of the class including an upright member mounted in the flush tank, a flexible stopper attached to the lower end of the upright member, a discharge outlet leading from the bottom of the flush tank and terminating on the inner end in a seat, at least a portion of the flexible stopper being complementary to the discharge seat, the upright member and flexible stopper being normally in a non-flushing position with the stopper seated in the discharge seat, the upright member and flexiblestopper being movable upwardly to a flushing position, the improvement comprising a weighted hammer slidably mounted on the upright member and above the flexible stopper, means for releasably holding the hammer suspended above the stopper, the hammer being carried upwardly when't'lie upright member and stopper are moved to the'flushing position and engaged by said holding means, the hammer being disengaged from said holding means by means carried by the upright member as the-upright member is returning toward the non-fiushing position, the hammer-falling downwardly along the upright member after disengagement from the holding means and striking the stopper.

' 6. In a flush tank of the class including an upright member mounted in the flush tank, a flexible stopper attached to the lower end of the upright member, a discharge outlet leading from the bottom of the flush tank and terminating on the inner end in a seat, at least a portion of the stopper being complementary to the seat, the upright member and stopper being normally in a nonflushing position with the stopper seated in the seat, the upright member and. stopper being movable upwardly to a flushing position, the improvement comprising a ferrous metal hammer slidably mounted on the upright member and above the stopper, magnet means for releasably holding the hammer suspended above the stopper, the hammer being carried upwardly when the upright member and stopper are moved to the flushing position andengaged by said magnet means, the hammer being disengaged from the magnet means by means carried by the upright member as the upright member is returning toward the non-flushing position, the hammer falling downwardly along the upright member after disengagement from the magnet means and striking the stopper.

7. In a flush tank, an upright rod mounted in the flush tank, a hollow flexible stopper attached to the lower end of therod, a dischargeoutlet leading from the bottom of the flush tank and terminating on the inner end in a seat, at least a lower portion of the stopper being complementary to the seat, the rod and stopper'being normally in a non-flushing position with the stopper seated in the discharge seat, the rod and stopper being movable upwardly to a flushing position, a weighted hammer slidably mounted on the rod and above the stopper, means for releasably holding the hammer suspended above the stopper, the hammer being carried upwardly when the rod and stopper are moved to a flushing position and engaged by said holding means, the hammer being disengaged from said holding means by means carried by the rod asthe rod and stopper are returning toward the non-flushing position, the hammer falling downwardly along the .rod after disengagement from the holding means and striking the stopper.

8. In a flush tank, an upright rod mounted in the flush tank, a hollow flexible stopper attached to the lower end of the rod, a discharge outlet leading from the bottom of the flush tank and terminating on the inner end in a seat, at least a lower portion of the stopper being complementary to'the seat, the rod and stopper being normally in a non-flushing position with the stopper seated in the discharge seat, the rod andstopper being movable upwardly to a flushing position, a ferrous metal hammer slidablymounted onthe rod and above the stopper,,means comprising a magnet for releasably holding the hammer suspended above the stopper, the hammer being carried upwardly when the rod and stopper are moved to a flushing position and engaged by the magnet, the hammer being disengaged from the magnet *by means carried by the rod aslthe rod and stopper are returning toward the non-flushing position, the hammer falling downwardly along the rod after disengagement from the magnet and striking the stopper.

N 0 references cited. 

